HBO’s Harry Potter TV Show Must Finally Fix What the Movies Got Wrong About Magic

by

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the upcoming HBO series, with fans discussing set pictures and new actors. Warner Bros. Discovery, the studio behind the show, hopes this adaptation will be more faithful to the original Harry Potter books. While it’s a challenge to top the beloved movie adaptations, early indications suggest the series will offer a fresh take on the story.

I’ve always been captivated by the magic in the world of Harry Potter, especially watching witches and wizards perform spells. There was something so thrilling about how they cast those spells – the way they’d clearly say the incantation before waving their wands. Honestly, that aspect felt a little lost towards the end of the films. That’s why I’m so excited about the new series! It feels like exactly what the franchise needs to recapture that wonderful, spoken-word-to-wand magic we all loved.

The Early Harry Potter Films Use Spells Perfectly

The first two Harry Potter movies, directed by Chris Columbus, feel noticeably different from the rest of the series. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets have a more playful and imaginative style, using warmer colors, elaborate costumes, and actual locations. The series becomes much more serious and visually dramatic starting with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but those initial films were key in establishing the magical world and its atmosphere. They really prioritized capturing the wonder of the Wizarding World.

The first two movies are full of different kinds of magic. We see magical objects that move on their own, and magical creatures like Dobby the house-elf who can do amazing things with a snap of his fingers. There are also magical experiences, like the Chocolate Frog or running through the barrier at Platform 9 & 3/4. What’s consistent throughout is that the magic always feels like it follows a clear set of rules within the world.

The first films clearly show that spells require specific words and wand movements. Almost all witches and wizards need to say the correct incantation and gesture properly to cast a spell, with powerful characters like Dumbledore and McGonagall being exceptions. We often see Hogwarts students practicing wand movements, hoping to get spells like Wingardium Leviosa right. These scenes, though sometimes funny – like when Seamus Finnigan’s feather explodes – are important because they make the Wizarding World feel believable and consistent.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a key moment occurs during the duel between Harry and Draco Malfoy. As they cast spells, each one is unique in its motion and wording, leading to a distinct effect. While subtle, this emphasizes that every spell has meaning and consequences – an idea explored further in later books and films, though not as prominently as in this second installment.

Later Harry Potter Movies Cast Spells Without Speaking

Later in the series, spells seem to become easier to cast, and the characters often perform magic with simple wand movements or even without speaking at all. The detailed incantations and wand work that were prominent at the beginning are largely gone. While the films still use practical effects to make the magic feel real, it often feels like the established rules are ignored. The story suggests the students are becoming more skilled, but something is lost when spells aren’t cast with proper technique and precision – it diminishes some of the magic’s original appeal.

The film relies more on stunning visuals than spoken incantations. While it introduces some new gestures to represent spellcasting, the focus is on a powerful duel between two wizards. This means traditional spellcasting is minimal, which, though potentially disappointing to some, feels appropriate given the characters and the scale of their conflict.

This is very different from how magic is shown in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Harry and his friends mostly rely on simple spells and blasts during fights, rather than complex verbal magic. Even when they do use traditional spells, they don’t follow the established rules of the wizarding world. The fight choreography itself feels basic, ignoring the vast range of spells available. The films avoid showing creative or unusual spell use – things like blasting someone with water or using tickling charms – which, while potentially silly, could add depth and seriousness to the battles. There are plenty of powerful spells that could have been showcased more effectively.

However, there are times when words truly matter and spells feel more impactful. The Unforgivable Curses are a prime example, as are moments where the visual effect of a spell is significant. Often, though, spells are just shown with a quick flash of light instead of a more impressive display. Spells like Expelliarmus and Stupefy still feel true to their original descriptions, even if they look similar on screen, and Bombarda Maxima is well-represented. As the films progressed, they featured fewer of the classic spells from the books, and the remaining spells became simpler and less interesting to watch.

The Harry Potter Series Can Lean Into the Book’s Whimsy

Often, the best way to improve adaptations is to stay truer to the source material. The Harry Potter video game Hogwarts Legacy did this well with its spell system, capturing the playful and imaginative feeling of the books, even during intense battles with creatures like goblins or acromantulas. There’s a satisfying rhythm to combat – freezing enemies, raising a shield, or sending them flying. The Harry Potter movies could achieve the same level of faithfulness and respect for the books.

As a big fan, I’m really excited about the new Harry Potter TV series on HBO, but I also feel a little nervous. It has a tough job – it needs to feel fresh and different from the movies, but stay true to the books I love. Honestly, how they show the magic will be a huge clue as to whether the creators get what makes the series so special, and how they plan to tell this story in a new way. I’m hoping they’ll learn from past adaptations and really focus on making the spells look and feel magical, just like they do in the books – that sense of wonder is so important!

Spells have rarely been performed on set during filming. When they have been used, it’s always been with a clear, spoken incantation – a loud and dramatic delivery. This is encouraging, especially considering Warner Bros. Discovery’s work on Hogwarts Legacy, which suggests a shift in how magic is approached. Hopefully, this means the series will start showing the detailed process of spell-casting as depicted in the Harry Potter books and films.

How Spells are Cast Says a Lot About the Characters

The Harry Potter series still faces the challenge of presenting magic in a fresh way. A simple solution is to link spells directly to the characters’ personalities. How a character performs magic can reveal a lot about who they are. The films already offer good examples of this. The duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore is one, and even the dark spell Sectumsempra shows us the violence and pain within Snape’s mind – a truly happy wizard wouldn’t create something so dangerous.

Hermione Granger’s spells are often cast with grace and accuracy, particularly in the first few films, showing how much she’s studied and perfected her magic. In contrast, Ron Weasley’s more haphazard spellcasting reflects his relaxed personality and lack of interest in detailed magical theory. The way characters use magic could reveal a lot about who they are, and it would be a missed opportunity to simply recreate the movie’s visuals instead of using magic to enhance their stories.

As a movie fan, I’m really hoping the next installment gets magic right. It feels like a huge opportunity to do something different – imagine spells built through what characters say, clever casting choices that hint at power, and actual movement involved in casting. We need a bit more fun and wonder in how magic looks on screen, and I’d love to see them expand the magical world with some surprising decisions – things that’ll really make it stand out. Honestly, it’s a franchise about witches and wizards, so the magic should be the star! It’s almost embarrassing that, right now, a video game does a better job showing off magical power than any of the movies have.

Fans will have to be patient for resolutions, but there’s a growing feeling that this bold new path might be exactly what the series needs. It’s an opportunity to introduce fresh ideas and tell a thrilling story where magic is more prominent, and finding the perfect actors becomes a key part of the experience.

Read More

2025-11-08 07:38